Kevin:
re:
Also, in your opinion, given that there have been unnecessary deaths, do you think the blowback from those will outweigh any tangible benefit resulting from the necessary deaths? Or, more simply, do you think the recent bombing of Lebanon will lead to less bombing of northern Israel, both in the short term and the long term?
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This is going to sound a bit dumb, after all the other posts, but I have learned to 'think' less, and 'do' and 'hope' more. Not being privy to all the info I would need towards supporting a clearly balanced opinion (the IDF is hardly going to say, ok girl, whatever you want to know to explain to eratosphereans, well, let us make your wish come true!), I am left with little option but the retrospect form of gaining information: to listen carefully, read between lines, and for the most, support groups that are involved in dialogue, or integrated activity. Thus, I follow the actions of various organisations supported by Israeli and world Jewry, (because Muslim and other Arab organisations try to boycott these activities rather than support them or set up independent ones of their own) run by women, for women: that conduct courses for Arab women in Israel, teaching them a range of capabilities: how to critically review attitudes and approaches, how to use natural or ethnic skills to set up cottage industry, how to respect (understand) and apply western business ethics while maintaining their cultural ethics, how to learn and then teach their children to respect otherness, and so on. Or the many and varied groupsand organisations that run integrated summer camps, study groups, debating and other activities for Israeli Jewish and Arabic youth, all geared to breaking down barriers and reaching for, at least, some kind of bridge where the both can stand and chat peacably.
As I already mentioned, there is usually a lot more behind- the-scenes diplomacy going on than ever makes most news items, overseas especially. The MidEast is like a boiling cauldron: a tiny change in the heat, and the contents either stop cooking altogether (stagnation), simmer (6 years of Katyushas, for example; tunnels under the southern borders for arms smuggling, etc) or suddenly bubble furiously (capture of Israelis; and the aftermath of those moves). Only prob is, one never knows who is going to be changing the heat level. From what appears to be any moment to the next, there may be a/several sudden secret diplomatic move/s that will alter the WHOLE picture temporarily or permanently. I hardly imagine Sadat popped over for one visit, all was decided over a frap, and papers signed to announce peace. But it was all so hush that when announcements were made, it seemed as though it had happened overnight. I happened to be in Israel when Sadat made his official visit there, too. The sense of elation, of relief, of hope for a better future, not only had people laughing but crying with joy.
Yes, it is a highly sensitive kind of peace these days, one Israel is loth to unbalance by making stronger moves against Egypt for allowing the tunnel digging etc from Egyptian jurisdiction - that is how much Israel just wants to co-exist (see my earlier comments relating to nothing more than status quo). It is hard to imagine other nations of the world simply accepting these kinds of tunnels and sending its own people in to dismantle them, at high risk.
So, as far as the immediate and the longterm situation in northern Israel, I HOPE there will be 'peace'(read: military inactivity) long enough to actualise an authentic peace, I HOPE Hezbolla realises it perhaps went a bit too far, I HOPE Iran and Syria understand that 'even, just' the capture of 'only a couple' of Israelis, after years of harrassment, is more than Israel is prepared to tolerate, as Israel believes its people have a right to feel safe at least within Israel's own borders which, until officially changed by negotiation, should be respected as such; and more than anything, I HOPE no organisation does anything else stupid to trigger another whole series of events causing bloodshed and other forms of damage. But Kevin, honest? Tomorrow is another day, and anything could happen in Israel or its surrounds, and probably will.
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